I think it's common for us as humans to want to feel valuable and to search for things to instill that value for us. One thing that can make many of us feel valuable is accomplishment and performance. For me personally, performance has always been a way of getting validated by the world.
Getting good grades in school, excelling in the work place, receiving rewards or even verbal "pats on the back" from friends saying "You are a good worker" or "You did a good job" always meant a lot. I always wanted to help other people and even beyond that I strived to be the best or the hero even. I think there's a drive to be a hero inside many of us and the desire to make a difference in the people around us.
I don't think the desire to help others or make a difference is bad. But I do believe the desire to be the hero and save the day can be. That's because we as humans are totally incapable of making such a big difference and can be very destructive unless we are under the leadership and service of Jesus Christ. We can't do anything truly good or worthy apart from Him. And when we want to be the hero independently, like Satan, we are saying "Jesus I want to do this my own way; I can do a great job without you." And we are selfish in our motives in elating ourselves.
Right now, nurses, doctors, respiratory therapists are getting a lot of "hero glory" because they are on the front lines fighting COVID. And I think we should be grateful, we should give them kudos and thank them for their service. But let's not ever forget, that Christ is the true hero who gave his son as a sacrifice for our sins with ultimately no ulterior motives. Jesus teaches us not how to be a hero , but how humbly serve on his team to win the ultimate battle against sin- which is a disease that ALWAYS leads to death.
As a nurse right now, I'm not yet able to work (because I'm self-quarantining) and that makes me angry, because I realized that inside of me I am jealous of the nurses who get to be the "hero". Because I wanted a pat on the back, I wanted a "thank you" I wanted to feel honored and respected for working. I wanted people to look up to me and say thank you for your sacrifice. I wanted to feel like I was making a difference. I wanted external gratification.--- But Jesus has convicted me friends, that my attitude is so wrong. I have the wrong motives.
Friends, we have to pray for peace and contentment in the place God has put us- whether that is in the front lines of COVID at the hospitals, or whether it is locked down in our houses. Whether we are in New York or Africa or the middle of Timbucktoo- God doesn't need another human who is trying to "save the world" on their own. What God needs is a humble servant who is able and willing to help the people around them in whatever mode that may be in. God needs for us to grow in our humility and faithfulness in Him.
As tempting as it is, to want to be the hero, and to want to be the Savior and center of our story and the stories of the people around us, what if we understood we were never created for this role. God was and is always supposed to be the hero of our lives and we are only radiating lights of the Great Light He has given us and shown us. We are only small people trying to love others so that they can understand the great big love He has for us.
O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together. Psalm 34:3
He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. Micah 6:8
